Clutch



- 7 I P. R. HANCOCK CLUTCH Filed May a. 1923 9 R mm v INVENTOR PRHA/vcv r,

7 A TTORNEYS atent STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'rmmr momma Hancoc or norm, momma.

CLUTCH.

Application filed May 8, 1923. Serial No. 687,520.

State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to clutches, more particularly to clutches of the jaw type of construction and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism having a pair of cooperative jaw members adapted to be moved into and out of driving engagement with each other and means adjustable to positively hold the jaw members in either engaged or disengaged relation in respect to each other or to hold the jaw members in engagement with each other until a predetermined load has been imposed on one of the jaw members, whereupon the jaw members will move relatively until completely out of engagement with each other and will be held out of en- 39 which the adjustable means for releasably gagement with each other until actuated by a positively applied external force.

A'further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in types,'not likely to get out of order easilyand thoroughly effective for the purpose-intended.

Otherobjects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is an end view of a clutch mechanism embodying the invention, and

Figure 2 is a view mainly in longitudinal vertical section and artly in side elevation of the mechanism e ibited in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates a shaft which may be a part of a transmission or drive mechanism of any known' type of.

construction. The shaft 1 may be supported for rotation about its axis in any suitable known manner, no supporting means therefor being shown. v

A fragmentary portion-of an element 2 which is to be driven and which may be a pulley, gear, or like element, is shown as havmg a hub portion 3 provided'with an axial bore 4: through which the shaft 1 loosely extends. A clutch member 5 is formed with an axial bore 6 receiving the shaft 1 and is disposed on the shaft 1 so that one end of the clutch member 5 is in fiatwise contiguous relation to the driven element 2 and is detach ably secured to the latter through the agency of screws or bolts 7 so that the driven ele ment 2 and the clutch member 5 are loosely mounted on the shaft 1 and will rotate as a unit about the axis of the shaft. The driven element 2 and the clutch member 5 are held against any appreciable movement longitudinally of the shaft 1 by a stop collar 8 which is disposed within a counter-bore 9 in the end of the hub portion 3 proximate to the clutch member 5 and is secured to the shaft 1 by a set screw 10.

The clutch member 5 is formed to provide an annular groove 11 in'the end thereof remote from the driven element 2 and the portion of the endwall of the clutch member circumscribed by the annular groove 11 is fashioned to form a projection or jaw 12 and a recess 13.

A second or driving clutch member 14 is Y feathered to the shaft 1, as indicated at 15,

and has the end wall thereof proximate to the clutch member 5 fastened to provide a recess 16 adapted to receive the jaw 12 and a jaw or projection 17 adapted to enter and engage with the recess 13. The clutch member 14 preferably is formed to have an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the annular groove 11 and the jaw 'or projection, 12 preferably is of less length than the depth of the annular groove 11 so that the bodyof the clutch member 14 will extend slightly beyond the plane of the; adjacent end of the clutch member 5 when the clutch members are in engagement with each other as indicated by the full lines in' Figure 2. I

It is to be observed at this point that the confronting conti ous walls of the jaws or projections 12.and 17 are coo eratively beveled or inclined and lie in p nes'intersect- 6 to cause the clutc 50 longitudinally ing movement of the clutch member 14 longitudinall of the shaft in the direction op posite to t e clutch member 5.

The means for'hold'ng the clutch member 14 against movement'longitudinally of the 15 shaft 1 until actuated in response to a predetermined load or force Wlll now be described. Such means includes a carrying ring which preferabl is of the split ring type of construction an comprises two half. 20 portions having at the edges thereof pairs of cooperative outwardly extendingtradial lugs 21, the lugs of each pair being secured i to each other by bolts 22. The carrying ring so formed is rotatably mounted adjacent to one of its endso'n the clutch member'5, be-

ing formed with an annular groove-23 adjacent to such end thereof into which an outwardly extending annularrib 24 on the adjacent end ortion of the clutch member 5 extends so t at the carrying ring 20 will beheld against axial movement relatively to the clutch member 5 although being free to rotate independently of the latter; With the arrangement described, the carrying ring 20 is supported in spaced concentric encir-f cling'relation to the clutch member 14. Inwardly extending radial lugs 25 comprising pairs of cooperative lug sections formed integrally with the two sections of the split ring 20 have, the inner end portions thereof received between spaced apart outwardly extending-radial lugs 26 "on the clutch member 14 so that the carrying ring 20 will be sustained at points intermediate its length and thus securely held in concentric relation to'the clutch member 14 and moreover the carrying rin 20 will be caused to rotate with the clutc member 14 as a unit although the clutch member 14 is permitted to slide of the shaft 1 independently of the carrying ring 20.

The 'carryingring 20 has a plurality of radial openings 27 formed through the portion thereof overlyin the clutch member F 14 andeach of the radlal openings 27 is provided with screw threads for engaging the screw threads on the shank 28 of a headed adjusting screw or plug 29. The adjusting screws or plugs 29 are of relatively great length and each is provided with an axial socket 30in the shank thereof, the socket being open at the'free end of the shank. An ex-' pansion spring 31 reacting at one end against the bottom of the socketand at its other end 3 against a slidable presser block 32 which also be yieldingly held in such inclined positions .at right angles, whereupon the springs 31 will is disposed in the socket tends to move the presser block toward the open end of the socket. Each presser block 32 is provided with a concaved or angular seat 33 in its outer face receivin a roun ed end 34 of a loc pin 35, the ot er end of which also is rounde and is disposed in a concavely' curved or angular socket or seat 36 in the outer wall of the clutch member 14. Each holding in 35 is of greater length than the radial istance between the. innerwallof the ring 20 and the outer wallof the clutch member 14 and in consequence will normally be inclined. in respect to the transverse axis of the clutch member 14.

From the foregoing description of the various Parts of the device, the operation thereo may be readily understood. When the clutch member 14 is in enga ement with the clutch member 5 as indicate by the full lines in Figure '2, theholding pins 35 will be inclined toward the plane of the ad acent end of the clutch member 5, and will bythe pressure of the springs 31 against the presser blocks 32.

' The clutch member 14 thus will be held against movement longitudinally of the shaft 1 in the direction opposite to the clutch member 5 until a force acts on the clutch member 5 .suflicient toovercome the torque V causing the clutch members 5 and 14 to rotate as a unit so that the rotation of the clutch member 5 will be retarded and the inclined face of the jaw 17 will ride u the 1 inclined face of the jaw. 12 and the c utch member 14 will be cammed longitudinally of the shaft 1, thereby forcin the presser blocks 32 outwardly in the 5051658 30 untilthe holding pins 35 have moved pivotally on their outer ends from the positions indicated by the full lines in Figure 2 slightly beyond positions in which they are disposed ina plane intersecting the clutch member 14 act to move the holdin pins 35 to the-positions indicated by the otted lines in Figure 2. When the holding pins 35 are in the positions indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, the clutch member 14 will be held 1 against movement toward a position to engage with the clutch member 5. i

It will be apparent that the force required to effect movement of theclutch .member 14 longitudinally of the shaft 1 against the 1 action of 'the springs 31 may be varied by manipulating the adjusting screws 29 to vary the tension on the springs 31. The adjusting screws 29 may be locked in position when a desired adjustment has been secured 1 through the agency of lock nuts 37 which are in threaded engagement with the shanks of the adjusting screws. 3

. The clutch member 14 may be returned to pos1t on t9 engage with thflclutch member 5 in any suitable known manner as by means of a shifter lever (not shownl which may be of any usual type of construction and may have portions or connect withparts engageable with an annular groove 38 in the outer wall of the end portion of the clutch member' 14 proximate to the stop collar 18.

It also will be manifest that I may provide any desirable number of cooperative jaws and recesses on the confronting faces or ends of the clutch members 5 and 14 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

' In order to positively lock the clutch member 14 against movement longitudinally of the shaft 1 from either the position indicated by the full lines in Figure 2 or the po- I sition indicated by the dotted-lines in the same figure it is only necessary to tighten the adjusting screws 29 until the springs 31 are fully compressed. The holding pins 35 then will be held against movement from the full 4 line positions to the dotted line positions or vice versa and the clutch member 14 will bepositively locked in engagement with the clutch member 5 or out of engagement with the clutch member 5, the position of the clutch member 14 in respect to the clutch member 5 being determined by its position when the adjusting screws are tightened to fully compress the springs 31. When the adjustment of the screws 29 is such as to cause the clutch member 14 to be yieldingly held against movement longitudinally of the shaft, any variation in the loadfon the clutch member 5 will cause slight relative movement of the cooperative jaws of the two clutch members and therefore the clutch jaws cannot become set in engagement with each other and are always in position to move apartwhen a predetermined load has been imposed upon the clutch member 5.

Since all the relatively moving parts of the device are mounted on a single shaft, it will be, obvious that there will be no end thrust on the shaft or on the relatively moving parts to cause friction and wear.

Obviously, my invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and I therefore consider as my own all modifications and adaptations of the form of the device herein disclosed which fairly fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus des I claim is 1. In a clutch, a freely rotatable clutch member, a clutch member axially aligned with the first clutch member and movable axially to and from osition to engage with the latter, said clutc members having cooperative jaws on their confronting faces, the contiguous walls of said jaws when the clutch members are engaged with each other cribed the invention, What lying in planes inclined in respect to the axis of rotation of, the second clutch mem- I her, a carrying ring disposed in spaced concentric relation to the second clutch mem-. her and being held against axial movement relatively to the first clutch member, and inwardly pressed yieldable means extending obliquely between the inner wall of the carrying ring and the outer Wall of the sec- .ond clutch member for yieldingly holding ber, a carryingring disposed in spaced eccentric relation to the second clutch member and being held against axial movement relatively to the first clutch member, and in wardly pressed yieldable means extending obliquely between the inner -wall of the carrying ring and the outenwall of the second clutch member for yieldingly holding the latter from disengaging the first clutch member, and means whereby the pressure pressing said holding means inwardly may be varied at will.

3. In a clutch, a freely rotatable clutch member, a clutch member axially aligned with the first clutch member and movable axially to and from position to engage with the latter, said clutch members having 'cooperative jaws on their confronting faces, the contiguous walls-of said jaws when the clutch members are engaged with each other lying in planes inclined in respect to the axis of rotation of the second clutch memher, a carrying ring disposed in spaced con- -centric relation to the second clutch member and being held against axial movement relatively to the first clutch member, said ring being held to rotate with said second clutch member and having a radial opening formed through its walls, a screw plug threadedly engaging said radial opening and having an axial socket open at the inner end of the plug, a spring pressed presser block slidable in the socket and being urged toward the inner end of the plug, and a holding pin, having rounded ends fulcrumed respectively in a seat on the outer wall of the second clutch member and on the inner face of said presser plug, the com-' bined length of said pin and said presser block being greater than the radial distance between the bottom of the seat in the outer wall of the second clutch member and the inner wall of said carrying ring, whereby said pin will be urged continuously toward axis of rotation of the second clutch memher, a carrying ring disposed in spaced concentric relation to the second clutch mem-' her and being held against axial movement relatively to the first clutch member, said ring being held to rotate with said second clutch member and having a radial opening formed through its walls, a screw plug threadedly engaging said radial opening bined length of said in an and having an axial socket open at the inner end of the plug, a spring pressed presser block slidable 1n the socket and being urged toward the inner end of the p215, and a olding pin having rounded ends crumed respectivel in a seat on the outer wall of the secon clutch member and on the'inner face of said presser lug, the comblock being greater t an the radial distance between the bottom of the seat in the outer wall of the second clutch. member and the inner wall of said carrying ring, where-- by said pin will be continuously toward a position in which it is'inclined in respect to the outer wall of said second clutch member, and a sto for limiting the movement of the secon away from the first clutch member.

PHILIP RICHARD HANCOCK.

said presser clutch member 

